What Is Pyoderma Gangrenosum? Painful Skin Ulcers, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Pyoderma Gangrenosum? Painful Skin Ulcers, Causes & Treatment Options Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare neutrophilic inflammatory skin disease that can cause extremely painful ulcers which enlarge rapidly and may be mistaken for serious infection or gangrene. PG is driven by abnormal inflammatory activity rather than ordinary bacterial infection or loss of blood supply, […]
What Is Psoriasis? Skin Plaques, Triggers & Treatment Options
What Is Psoriasis? Skin Plaques, Triggers & Treatment Options Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease that causes skin cells to accumulate too quickly, producing thickened, scaly plaques that can itch, burn, crack or become sore. Instead of acting like ordinary dry skin, psoriasis reflects immune dysregulation that accelerates skin-cell turnover, so surface scale is […]
What Is Pruritus / Itching? Skin Itch, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Pruritus / Itching? Skin Itch, Causes & Treatment Options Pruritus is the medical term for itching—a skin sensation that creates an urge to scratch and can arise from skin disease, internal illness, medication effects or abnormal nerve signaling. It is a symptom rather than one single diagnosis, which is why similar-looking itch can […]
What Is Prurigo Nodularis? Itchy Skin Nodules, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Prurigo Nodularis? Itchy Skin Nodules, Causes & Treatment Options Prurigo nodularis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes intensely itchy firm nodules and is sustained by abnormal itch signaling, inflammation and repeated scratching. The itch often precedes the nodules, and repeated scratching or rubbing can make lesions thicker, rougher, more numerous and […]
What Is Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation? Dark Marks, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation? Dark Marks, Causes & Treatment Options Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is flat residual discoloration that develops after skin inflammation or injury stimulates excess or misplaced melanin. It appears after problems such as acne, eczema, irritation, burns or other inflammatory skin events improve, leaving a darker mark where the original inflammation occurred. PIH is […]
What Is Porphyria Cutanea Tarda? Fragile Skin, Blisters & Treatment Options
What Is Porphyria Cutanea Tarda? Fragile Skin, Blisters & Treatment Options Porphyria cutanea tarda is a porphyrin-metabolism disorder that makes sun-exposed skin unusually fragile and prone to blisters, erosions, slow healing and scarring. Reduced hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity allows photosensitizing porphyrins to accumulate, and light exposure then converts that biochemical burden into visible skin injury. […]
What Is Porokeratosis? Ring-Like Skin Lesions, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Porokeratosis? Ring-Like Skin Lesions, Causes & Treatment Options Porokeratosis is a group of chronic keratinization disorders that produce expanding skin lesions with a narrow raised keratotic ridge surrounding relatively flatter or thinner central skin. Lesions can become round, annular or irregular as an abnormal keratinocyte clone expands outward, so ridge morphology matters more […]
What Is Polymorphic Light Eruption? Sun-Triggered Rash, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Polymorphic Light Eruption? Sun-Triggered Rash, Causes & Treatment Options Polymorphic light eruption is a recurrent photosensitivity disorder that causes itchy or burning skin lesions several hours to one or two days after ultraviolet exposure. Also called polymorphous light eruption, PMLE or PLE, it most often appears in spring or early summer on skin […]
What Are Plantar Warts? Foot Warts, Causes & Treatment Options
What Are Plantar Warts? Foot Warts, Causes & Treatment Options Plantar warts are benign cutaneous HPV growths on the sole that often become rough, thick and inward-growing because standing and walking compress them into weight-bearing skin. Also called verruca plantaris, they commonly interrupt normal skin lines and may show pinpoint red or black capillary dots […]
What Is Pityriasis Versicolor / Tinea Versicolor? Skin Color Patches, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Pityriasis Versicolor / Tinea Versicolor? Skin Color Patches, Causes & Treatment Options Pityriasis versicolor, also called tinea versicolor, is a common superficial yeast disorder caused by overgrowth of Malassezia that produces finely scaly lighter, darker or pink patches, especially on the upper trunk. The yeast remains within the stratum corneum, and patches commonly […]